Is Robinho Worth the Headache?

I wonder if Manchester City are ready to cut their losses with Robinho at this time. After the impromptu vacation he took last week, all Manchester City seem willing to do is fine him two weeks wages. To that I say ‘big deal’. Do you think Robinho cares about missing a couple hundred more thousand quid when he got to have his fun? Now granted Manchester City did not have a game last weekend, but to just take a hike from training is a joke. Sadly though, it doesn’t seem to scratch the surface with the trouble Robinho could possibly cause.

Tonight it is being reported that Robinho has been arrested and bailed over an alleged sexual assault charge. The incident happened a few weeks ago and the arrest was just recently made. The incident in question happened in a Leeds nightclub.

When does it get to a point where Manchester City just say to hell with it and cut their losses with this player? Just the allegation of a sexual assault is a pretty harsh one indeed, even if he isn’t guilty. It makes a club question if having a player of his caliber is worth all the trouble just to have around. For a club that is still not safe for next season this is the last thing they need. It’s another distraction that only takes away from survival in order to build for the future. At this point, it’s only in Manchester City’s best interest to sell Robinho in the summer, he just isn’t worth the headache he has caused this season.

Another guy who at this point isn’t worth the headache is Andrei Arshavin. Depending on who you want to believe, Zenit and Arshavin are at an impasse with regards to a bonus payment that came about from resigning his contract back in 2006. While at the same time, Wenger has come out and said no deal has been made over Arshavin and there are even some who are saying that Wenger isn’t all that bothered if this deal gets done or not.

And at this point, why would Wenger want to spend a few sleepless nights about it? For a transfer that has been talked about since before the January transfer window opened, it’s almost shocking at how slow this all has been. Wenger may have finally gotten to a point where he just threw his hands up and has gone ‘if it happens it does, if not, who cares’. If that is the case I applaud him. Wenger doesn’t need this headache to get in his way of guiding Arsenal back into the top four.

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The Premier League has it’s sights on a favorite site of many football fans. The Premier League is going after myp2p.eu. Now if I’m myp2p.eu, I say screw it. All they do is link to games, not host them on their website. Go after the people behind the link, not the guy who links them, it’s counter productive. While I’m thinking about it, doesn’t this just seem like a repeat over what happened with 101greatgoals?

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Wow, this is one of the weakest articles I've come across on the web. You just seem to blurt out a series of wishfull comments that lack any logical support.

Let's start with your contemptful view of Robinho at Manchester City. I've got news for you: the club needs a strong squad — for yesterday. Sure they have prima donna problems with Robinho, but that doesn't mean they should just turn around and sell their marquee player. The world of soccer has seen a fair share of players marred in controversy and blessed with consistent game-winning talent. Romário, Cantoná and Stoichkov are just a few names that come to mind. The fact is these players made all the difference for their respective clubs, despite the off-pitch brawls, womanizing scandals or unauthorized vacations.

Robinho plays a dual role at Man City. Firstly, regardless of what you may think of Robinho as a person, the truth is Robinho the player has been delivering on the pitch (which, at the end of the day, is precisely why the club made the pricey acquisition last season). Secondly, Robinho puts Man City on the football map and increases Mark Hughes' odds of securing additional top-shelf talent. The Abu Dahbi United Group has made it no secret that they seek to build a winning brand and a world-class team out of Man City by signing international superstars. Having Robinho on the player roster faciliates the arab group's pitch to potential signees who doubt the seriousness of the Man City project.

As for Arsenal, the team has been suffering from a string of injuries to its key players this season. Wenger should pay up for Arshavin. The player is also fairly priced based on the leadership role and technical ability he has demonstrated at club and international stages. The economics of a potential transaction also make sense. Arsenal trail Aston Villa by 5 points and continue to struggle on the pitch. A failure to quality for the Champions League could cost the club significantly more than 15 million or even 20 million pounds. Exclusion from the CL means lower broadcasting and marketing revenues and a tougher time in the future signing fresh talent. Arsenal also becomes vulnerable to seeing current players abandon the club in the 2009/2010 season.

The only difference between Robinho and those you make mention of is their manager(s) knew how to keep them in check. Mark Hughes has not the slightest idea on how to handle Robinho. And if Robinho is helping secure you talent…where is it? Kaka already told you no, and the only two signings you've made in this window in my mind were severely overpriced.

Also I am going on the basis Mark Hughes won't be around next season. If you want world class players, you need a manager to match. Sorry but Mark Hughes doesn't cut it for that.

As for Arshavin, we'll find out in less than 22 hours. Right now I just don't see the deal happening. That said, watch the paperwork be faxed to the Premier League at 16:59 tomorrow afternoon.

First of all, let's make one thing clear: I'm not a Man City fan. My comments are based on my observations of the goings-on in the soccer world.

As for your argument that Robinho fails to serve as a sweeterner for future signees just because the Kaká deal fell through holds no water. In fact, you probably know, deep inside, how profoundly cyncial your statement was. Kaká didn't join Man City for a host of reasons. In fact, he hasn't moved to Real Madrid (of all clubs) for similar money in the past, so the idea that Kaká's failure to sign can somehow be blamed on Robinho's lack of appeal is rubbish. Kaká is established and revered in Milan and will likely retire at the club.

You speak of Romário, Cantoná and Stoichkov having been reined in more successfully by their respective managers. You obviously do not know a thing about any of these players. Cantoná once freekicked a fan in the stands because he got cursed — this, after a long history of red cards on the pitch and sanctions imposed by the club. Stoichkov was also constantly involved in fights on and off the pitch. Romário was notorious for missing training exercises during the week. The coach never dared sack him. The truth is superstar players can pull off prima donna acts, well, because they're exceptional. They are difficult to replace.

In the case of Man City, Robinho's position of strength at the barganing table with Hughes is further strengthened by the fact that the team lacts other “galacticos” to dillute the Brazilian's influence on the pitch. Hughes is also in a tenuous position right now with the Arabs given how poorly the squad is performing. If he attempts a show of force by sacking Robinho and Man City gets relegated, he's finished. Sure, one could argue that Hughes' days at Eastlands are numbered regardless of their relegation prospects. Nevertheless, as a young coach, Hughes will certainly be wary of taking any bold actions that could be detrimental to his employability at other big clubs in the future (ie. a Man City relegation).

Robinho may be a headache right now, but one City just may have to put up with for the time being until the team attains a respectable degree of critical mass.